WEBVTT 00:00:02.240 --> 00:00:06.000 Condemnation, guilt, doubt. Is it possible that 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:09.039 the enemy of your soul is using these common 00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:12.320 emotions to keep you from experiencing God's 00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:14.720 love and God's power? You know that feeling I 00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:17.480 have at times like, I'm a terrible person. I'm 00:00:17.480 --> 00:00:21.120 worthless. No one could love me. Those are not 00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:24.100 from God. Question, how do you get rid of them? 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:31.239 Let's tackle that one together today. Thank you 00:00:31.239 --> 00:00:33.520 for being with us for this edition of Living 00:00:33.520 --> 00:00:36.460 on the Edge with Chip Ingram. Chip serves as 00:00:36.460 --> 00:00:38.659 our Bible teacher for this global teaching and 00:00:38.659 --> 00:00:41.320 discipleship ministry, helping Christians develop 00:00:41.320 --> 00:00:44.100 an authentic faith. While we're in the middle 00:00:44.100 --> 00:00:46.299 of our series, The Invisible War, what every 00:00:46.299 --> 00:00:49.119 believer needs to know about Satan, demons, and 00:00:49.119 --> 00:00:51.960 spiritual warfare. And quickly, if you've missed 00:00:51.960 --> 00:00:54.960 any part of this study, catch up at livingontheedge 00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:58.759 .org or wherever you listen to podcasts. Well, 00:00:58.780 --> 00:01:00.539 with that, here's Chip with part two of his talk, 00:01:00.700 --> 00:01:03.340 How to Prepare Yourself for Spiritual Battle. 00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:07.500 Satan's attacks aren't merely deception, but 00:01:07.500 --> 00:01:10.000 accusation. He's the accuser of the brethren, 00:01:10.099 --> 00:01:13.280 guilt and condemnation of the believer. This 00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:15.420 happens when we willfully turn away from what 00:01:15.420 --> 00:01:18.579 we know is God's will. We open ourselves to satanic 00:01:18.579 --> 00:01:22.140 attack. And we all do this, right? We know what's 00:01:22.140 --> 00:01:27.159 right to do. I remember in... I really think 00:01:27.159 --> 00:01:28.739 it was a great prayer in the tradition that I 00:01:28.739 --> 00:01:31.500 grew up in. We had a lot of rote prayers, and 00:01:31.500 --> 00:01:33.620 one of the prayers went something like, forgive 00:01:33.620 --> 00:01:36.219 us for the things that we have done, and forgive 00:01:36.219 --> 00:01:40.060 us those things which we should have done. I 00:01:40.060 --> 00:01:42.040 don't remember it very well, because there was 00:01:42.040 --> 00:01:43.879 a lot of ought to have done's and ought not to 00:01:43.879 --> 00:01:46.140 have done's, and I can't remember the old English. 00:01:47.140 --> 00:01:50.040 But when I know this is what God wants me to 00:01:50.040 --> 00:01:54.530 do, The belt of truth is nothing more and nothing 00:01:54.530 --> 00:01:56.469 less than being honest with God and honest with 00:01:56.469 --> 00:02:00.349 yourself. The breastplate of righteousness is 00:02:00.349 --> 00:02:03.909 the application of the truth to your life. You 00:02:03.909 --> 00:02:09.610 know what's right. Are you obeying? When we don't, 00:02:09.610 --> 00:02:14.250 it opens you to demonic influence. And again, 00:02:14.389 --> 00:02:16.729 when I use that word, demonic influence, oh, 00:02:16.750 --> 00:02:19.449 that sounds so weird and out there. You remember 00:02:19.449 --> 00:02:25.210 Saul? You know, he was the first king and he 00:02:25.210 --> 00:02:29.069 felt inadequate for the job and was very humble. 00:02:29.550 --> 00:02:32.229 And then he went wayward and he was fearful and 00:02:32.229 --> 00:02:34.449 he really, really cared deeply about what everyone 00:02:34.449 --> 00:02:36.990 thought. And he was given a very clear command 00:02:36.990 --> 00:02:39.610 and he was to wait on the prophet and he didn't 00:02:39.610 --> 00:02:41.469 wait on the prophet. And many of you know the 00:02:41.469 --> 00:02:44.090 story. And if you don't, here's the point. He 00:02:44.090 --> 00:02:47.310 knew exactly what to do and he did the opposite. 00:02:47.629 --> 00:02:51.129 And then he was confronted and then he rationalized. 00:02:51.710 --> 00:02:54.750 And then finally, he's begging the prophet not 00:02:54.750 --> 00:02:58.629 to leave. But if you track Saul's life from that 00:02:58.629 --> 00:03:02.490 moment of major disobedience, God says, I've 00:03:02.490 --> 00:03:06.789 set him aside. He goes and anoints David. And 00:03:06.789 --> 00:03:10.729 then out of that disobedience, he wants information 00:03:10.729 --> 00:03:14.330 and he wants help, and he starts consulting mediums 00:03:14.330 --> 00:03:19.469 and gets involved in demonic affairs. Now, he's 00:03:19.469 --> 00:03:23.530 deceived. And notice what was Saul's goal. He 00:03:23.530 --> 00:03:27.110 wants to protect his turf. He was envious of 00:03:27.110 --> 00:03:30.629 what might happen with David. He didn't, it was 00:03:30.629 --> 00:03:33.509 the me, it was the ego. That's what the enemy 00:03:33.509 --> 00:03:36.409 does. Boy, don't let anyone else get credit. 00:03:36.610 --> 00:03:39.310 Don't let them talk about David's 10 ,000s and 00:03:39.310 --> 00:03:41.629 just my thousands. And the more and more then 00:03:41.629 --> 00:03:44.050 envy set in, and then pretty soon he's being 00:03:44.050 --> 00:03:46.729 deceived, and then comes the condemnation. Remember 00:03:46.729 --> 00:03:50.639 Peter. I mean, what a great picture of, You know, 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:53.800 30 seconds, God speaks through you. 30 seconds 00:03:53.800 --> 00:03:55.460 later, and the enemy's speaking through you. 00:03:58.039 --> 00:04:00.139 And this isn't some weird guy. This is someone 00:04:00.139 --> 00:04:02.960 who loves God, who's left his family. He's all 00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:05.319 in. He'll do whatever God wants him to do. Who 00:04:05.319 --> 00:04:08.639 do men say that I am? Well, some say John the 00:04:08.639 --> 00:04:10.599 Baptist. Some say one of the prophets. But who 00:04:10.599 --> 00:04:14.039 do you say that I am? Peter. Thou art the Christ, 00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:19.069 the son of the living God. Peter. that's not 00:04:19.069 --> 00:04:21.569 you. The Father has revealed that to you. Give 00:04:21.569 --> 00:04:23.810 me five, bro. I don't think he really said that, 00:04:23.889 --> 00:04:27.529 but I mean, it was like, wow. And then it says, 00:04:27.709 --> 00:04:29.569 and then Jesus from that time began to explain 00:04:29.569 --> 00:04:33.389 how he must suffer by the chief priest and die 00:04:33.389 --> 00:04:35.730 for the sake of the nation. And Peter pulls him 00:04:35.730 --> 00:04:39.410 aside and basically goes, no way. What are you 00:04:39.410 --> 00:04:42.189 thinking? You don't get the program. We signed 00:04:42.189 --> 00:04:44.250 up. We're going to take down Rome. We're going 00:04:44.250 --> 00:04:46.370 to sit on thrones for you. In other words, I'm 00:04:46.370 --> 00:04:49.180 totally committed to you, but I thought the promise 00:04:49.180 --> 00:04:53.939 was a crown, not a cross. And do you remember? 00:04:55.079 --> 00:04:58.139 The Father just spoke through him. And do you 00:04:58.139 --> 00:05:01.860 remember Jesus' words? Get behind me, Satan. 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:04.319 Now, was he saying Peter was Satan? Of course 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:07.730 not. What's he saying? This is how men think. 00:05:07.930 --> 00:05:10.649 This is about your agenda. This is about using 00:05:10.649 --> 00:05:13.709 your walk with me and faith in me, not to serve 00:05:13.709 --> 00:05:16.269 me, not to honor the Father. Peter, this is all 00:05:16.269 --> 00:05:19.550 about you. That's Satan. That's his agenda. By 00:05:19.550 --> 00:05:22.490 the way, I think that is what destroys the church 00:05:22.490 --> 00:05:24.250 and destroys Christians more than anything else. 00:05:25.009 --> 00:05:29.129 It's the most sincere of us. who want to do God's 00:05:29.129 --> 00:05:31.810 will, but the subtlety is we want to do God's 00:05:31.810 --> 00:05:34.470 will with an entitlement expectation of what 00:05:34.470 --> 00:05:36.569 it's going to get for us and how people see us 00:05:36.569 --> 00:05:39.569 and what we're going to get. I'm taking up my 00:05:39.569 --> 00:05:43.329 cross to follow you for a crown, for what I'll 00:05:43.329 --> 00:05:48.810 get, for how people will see me. I think some 00:05:48.810 --> 00:05:53.029 of the most deluded, satanically influenced people 00:05:53.029 --> 00:05:56.790 in all the world are religious people. And not 00:05:56.790 --> 00:05:59.350 just in Christianity. The most dangerous people 00:05:59.350 --> 00:06:01.949 in the world is if you actually believe something 00:06:01.949 --> 00:06:07.430 that's such a huge lie. I mean, ponder. I mean, 00:06:07.470 --> 00:06:09.089 this is happening all over the world right now. 00:06:09.189 --> 00:06:13.509 Little boys in Saudi Arabia. Little boys in Iran. 00:06:14.370 --> 00:06:18.149 Little boys in parts of Indonesia. They're being 00:06:18.149 --> 00:06:24.569 taught that, you know, this is what God wants. 00:06:25.449 --> 00:06:29.029 These infidels are ruining the world. There is 00:06:29.029 --> 00:06:32.509 another life and your greatest contribution and 00:06:32.509 --> 00:06:36.970 the great reward is if you kill them. These are 00:06:36.970 --> 00:06:42.990 kids. They're just kids. An 11 -year -old straps 00:06:42.990 --> 00:06:46.430 a bomb on himself and waves to the soldiers. 00:06:47.790 --> 00:06:50.370 And the Humvee comes by and he pushes a button. 00:06:51.089 --> 00:06:54.550 And he's convinced. And the parents may even 00:06:54.550 --> 00:06:57.470 get a little payoff and be esteemed in the community 00:06:57.470 --> 00:07:01.730 because of what your son has done. I mean, this 00:07:01.730 --> 00:07:05.470 isn't just delusions and Christianity and wickedness 00:07:05.470 --> 00:07:10.069 and lies. This is very, very, very serious. That's 00:07:10.069 --> 00:07:13.009 why truth matters. And that's why if there's 00:07:13.009 --> 00:07:15.529 not truth in my heart and your heart, if there's 00:07:15.529 --> 00:07:17.629 not truth in your small group and in your family, 00:07:17.709 --> 00:07:19.670 if there's not truth in your church, and if there's 00:07:19.670 --> 00:07:23.019 not truth in America, wow! You can see where 00:07:23.019 --> 00:07:27.939 we're going and why. And so here's the application, 00:07:28.060 --> 00:07:30.019 therefore, to the one who knows what's right 00:07:30.019 --> 00:07:36.459 to do and doesn't do it. To him, it is sin. Now, 00:07:36.500 --> 00:07:39.939 I want to clarify something because I, at least 00:07:39.939 --> 00:07:43.120 in my experience, I think Christians get confused 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:45.439 between the difference between conviction and 00:07:45.439 --> 00:07:48.860 condemnation. And we have many different personality 00:07:48.860 --> 00:07:52.660 types in the room. There's my kind of personality 00:07:52.660 --> 00:07:55.959 and many others, and there's personalities like 00:07:55.959 --> 00:07:58.879 my wife. But we are on the opposite ends of the 00:07:58.879 --> 00:08:03.199 continuum, and most of you are in between. I'm 00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:07.660 sort of a big picture. The end can kind of justify 00:08:07.660 --> 00:08:11.240 the means. The rules were primarily made for 00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:15.699 other people. It's the spirit of the law, not 00:08:15.699 --> 00:08:22.600 the letter of the law. And some people, when 00:08:22.600 --> 00:08:26.019 you talk about being honest and scrutiny, they 00:08:26.019 --> 00:08:30.240 literally, I mean, my wife is the other end of 00:08:30.240 --> 00:08:33.779 this world. But it's like she may live more purely 00:08:33.779 --> 00:08:37.059 than most people, and she will just agonize over 00:08:37.059 --> 00:08:39.940 some little thing she said in some way at some 00:08:39.940 --> 00:08:43.200 time. And so what I want you to know is if you 00:08:43.200 --> 00:08:44.779 don't know the difference between condemnation 00:08:44.779 --> 00:08:47.360 and conviction, you'll get very, very confused. 00:08:49.539 --> 00:08:52.740 Conviction is very specific, and the goal is 00:08:52.740 --> 00:08:56.440 to restore you to your Heavenly Father. Condemnation 00:08:56.440 --> 00:08:59.980 is vague, and it makes you feel worthless and 00:08:59.980 --> 00:09:02.320 makes you want to go away from your Heavenly 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:06.580 Father. And they can both be around the same 00:09:06.580 --> 00:09:10.009 issue. You're a man and something pops up on 00:09:10.009 --> 00:09:13.389 the screen or a very beautiful young woman who 00:09:13.389 --> 00:09:16.049 doesn't have many clothes on and you can't control 00:09:16.049 --> 00:09:17.850 the first look, but the next three looks you 00:09:17.850 --> 00:09:20.350 could have controlled and your mind went somewhere 00:09:20.350 --> 00:09:23.750 else or it could be a woman and you walk into 00:09:23.750 --> 00:09:25.889 someone else's house and you've been thinking 00:09:25.889 --> 00:09:27.889 about it, wanting about it, talking about it. 00:09:27.950 --> 00:09:30.409 Your husband isn't quite on board, but you want 00:09:30.409 --> 00:09:32.169 to remodel that kitchen and they remodel their 00:09:32.169 --> 00:09:33.929 kitchen. Not only that, but they landscape the 00:09:33.929 --> 00:09:35.730 backyard and they got the little fountain and 00:09:35.730 --> 00:09:38.289 your heart is starting to grow. with envy and 00:09:38.289 --> 00:09:39.929 resentment toward your husband all at the same 00:09:39.929 --> 00:09:46.309 time. And that's floating around. And the enemy, 00:09:46.370 --> 00:09:49.470 always working with the heart, can say to a man, 00:09:49.629 --> 00:09:53.149 you're worthless. You call yourself a Christian? 00:09:54.230 --> 00:10:00.049 How could you have thought? It's one thing, but 00:10:00.049 --> 00:10:05.149 look at how you logged on. Look at how you acted. 00:10:05.450 --> 00:10:10.909 You are... You're a terrible person. You think 00:10:10.909 --> 00:10:13.610 God's going to listen to you? You think your 00:10:13.610 --> 00:10:16.350 kids or your wife ought to respect you? What 00:10:16.350 --> 00:10:20.470 a loser. You know what that makes a man feel 00:10:20.470 --> 00:10:23.769 like? The whole life's impossible. I can't do 00:10:23.769 --> 00:10:27.429 this. And you start believing that. And by the 00:10:27.429 --> 00:10:34.600 way, you become what you believe. Period. It's 00:10:34.600 --> 00:10:36.539 really interesting to me when people tell me, 00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:38.600 oh, I believe this or I believe that or I believe 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:41.779 that. It's a bunch of baloney. You want to know 00:10:41.779 --> 00:10:43.320 what you believe? Just look at your behavior. 00:10:43.379 --> 00:10:46.080 That's what you believe. What you actually believe 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:51.519 is how you act. Oh, I believe everything that 00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:56.220 I have belongs to God. Really? So do you give 00:10:56.220 --> 00:10:58.679 first and foremost off the top? Are you creating 00:10:58.679 --> 00:11:01.259 a heart of generosity? Are you? I think the most 00:11:01.259 --> 00:11:03.700 important person in the world is God. but I don't 00:11:03.700 --> 00:11:05.860 have time to read his word, don't have time to 00:11:05.860 --> 00:11:08.500 be with other people. In other words, what I 00:11:08.500 --> 00:11:11.259 actually believe. And see, that's where the deception 00:11:11.259 --> 00:11:14.700 is, especially in a world where we intellectualize 00:11:14.700 --> 00:11:17.379 things. Over here, I actually think I believe 00:11:17.379 --> 00:11:20.299 this. But if your life doesn't tell the same 00:11:20.299 --> 00:11:23.259 story as your thoughts, there's a word for that 00:11:23.259 --> 00:11:26.899 that we don't like, hypocrite. The Greek word 00:11:26.899 --> 00:11:29.240 comes from wearing a mask in the Greek theater. 00:11:30.570 --> 00:11:34.149 And that's why Paul says in Romans 12, let love 00:11:34.149 --> 00:11:37.730 be without hypocrisy. In other words, take off 00:11:37.730 --> 00:11:40.210 your mask. Love can only happen when the real 00:11:40.210 --> 00:11:42.950 you shows up. But the real you can't show up 00:11:42.950 --> 00:11:45.669 if you feel condemned, if you feel worthless. 00:11:45.830 --> 00:11:48.769 You'll hide it. You'll pose. And by the way, 00:11:48.850 --> 00:11:51.389 I love the way you guys are looking at me. We're 00:11:51.389 --> 00:11:55.029 really having fun together. The issue is not 00:11:55.029 --> 00:11:58.429 if you do this. It's just how much and when. 00:11:59.620 --> 00:12:03.700 You're human. We all pose. We all project that 00:12:03.700 --> 00:12:05.559 we love more, that we're more holy, we're more 00:12:05.559 --> 00:12:08.899 this, we're more that. But the more we can be 00:12:08.899 --> 00:12:11.460 honest and realize, you know, the most beautiful 00:12:11.460 --> 00:12:15.460 person in the whole world is the real you, not 00:12:15.460 --> 00:12:17.779 who I can project. I mean, I don't want to project 00:12:17.779 --> 00:12:19.519 that, you know, I'm a really good husband, I'm 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:21.440 a good pastor, and I'm a good grandfather, and, 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:24.259 you know, I really love God, and I'm trying and 00:12:24.259 --> 00:12:27.419 all those things. But I know there's a presentation. 00:12:28.340 --> 00:12:31.019 even unconscious, that I just want it to be a 00:12:31.019 --> 00:12:34.460 little bit better than it is. And so do you. 00:12:35.460 --> 00:12:37.980 But what I do know is I spend time with God, 00:12:38.100 --> 00:12:40.899 and even as I'm walking, when he brings those 00:12:40.899 --> 00:12:44.059 to my mind and to my heart, if I can learn to 00:12:44.059 --> 00:12:48.620 pause and in real time, oh, you know, that was 00:12:48.620 --> 00:12:51.259 a lot of chip and not too much of you, then it 00:12:51.259 --> 00:12:53.399 restores that connectedness. You understand what 00:12:53.399 --> 00:12:57.139 I'm saying? And so condemnation is you're a bad 00:12:57.139 --> 00:13:02.240 person. Conviction is you logged on, you looked 00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:05.200 at this, you knew it was wrong, you continued 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:08.840 to do it. That put a division between you and 00:13:08.840 --> 00:13:12.419 me. You sat there and you smiled and you told 00:13:12.419 --> 00:13:15.860 her you loved her kitchen and down deep you hated 00:13:15.860 --> 00:13:24.379 that she had it and you don't. And condemnation 00:13:24.379 --> 00:13:26.879 is what kind of terrible person would not be 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:29.399 happy for my best friend who has a good kitchen? 00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:32.360 I feel terrible. I drive home. I drive home and 00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:34.519 I feel like I'm a terrible person. I can't believe 00:13:34.519 --> 00:13:37.559 I thought things like that. Well, why? Don't 00:13:37.559 --> 00:13:41.460 humans sin? Aren't you human? You just sin. But 00:13:41.460 --> 00:13:43.720 if it's condemnation, you know what? There's 00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:47.340 only one thing to do. Stop off. I like a triple 00:13:47.340 --> 00:13:51.059 latte, six shots. I'll have two of the chocolate 00:13:51.059 --> 00:13:55.230 cakes. I think I'll feel better. Know what you'll 00:13:55.230 --> 00:13:57.129 do. Then you'll feel guilty for what you ate, 00:13:57.210 --> 00:14:00.029 right? Then you'll look in the mirror and go, 00:14:00.070 --> 00:14:02.309 I just can't believe it. I am such a loser. I've 00:14:02.309 --> 00:14:05.990 gained three pounds, you know? Yeah, the difference 00:14:05.990 --> 00:14:13.289 is, God will say, that was envy. Can you rejoice 00:14:13.289 --> 00:14:16.809 for what I've given her and recognize that I'm 00:14:16.809 --> 00:14:21.019 a good God and I'll take care of you? And the 00:14:21.019 --> 00:14:24.179 moment you agree with God about that, not hide 00:14:24.179 --> 00:14:27.159 it, not deny it, the moment you agree, you know, 00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:30.980 it's wrong. I am pulled like a magnet into these 00:14:30.980 --> 00:14:33.659 naked bodies, and then I feel dirty afterwards, 00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:37.419 and then I'm condemnation. God, you understand. 00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:41.059 You confess it, and you're cleansed from all 00:14:41.059 --> 00:14:45.120 unrighteousness. You're listening to Living on 00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:47.940 the Edge. We'll get back to our series, The Invisible 00:14:47.940 --> 00:14:50.860 War, in just a minute. But first, if this teaching 00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:53.659 has ministered to you, consider becoming a monthly 00:14:53.659 --> 00:14:56.500 partner. Your regular financial support goes 00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:59.580 a long way to help us encourage pastors, create 00:14:59.580 --> 00:15:02.480 resources, and share Jesus with today's youth. 00:15:02.860 --> 00:15:06.159 Visit livingontheedge .org to learn how to support 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:12.259 us. Well, with that, here again is Chip. And 00:15:12.259 --> 00:15:14.299 overcoming things we'll talk about a little bit 00:15:14.299 --> 00:15:17.799 later. But could I ask you just for a moment, 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:19.700 is there any personal issues you need to address? 00:15:21.720 --> 00:15:23.700 I mean, the goal here is not that we just like, 00:15:23.820 --> 00:15:28.379 wow, let's learn about this. So let me give you 00:15:28.379 --> 00:15:36.200 a list of areas that I find that we tend to struggle 00:15:36.200 --> 00:15:38.279 with. And just lean back. This is not like, oh, 00:15:38.299 --> 00:15:40.759 I got to get this down. No. You don't need to 00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:43.940 get this down. You need to get this in. Just 00:15:43.940 --> 00:15:49.919 lean back, pencils down. Is there anyone you 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:53.799 need to forgive? Any unresolved relationship? 00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:59.340 God, show me. And by the way, if it's real vague, 00:15:59.559 --> 00:16:01.820 I mean, you don't have to try and conjure up 00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:04.840 sin. The Holy Spirit's like really active. It's 00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:12.299 Bob, all right? It's Lucy. Or how about, what 00:16:12.299 --> 00:16:15.960 about someone that's not with us anymore? And 00:16:15.960 --> 00:16:18.919 there's still resentment in your heart. And, 00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:21.299 you know, they still exert power over your life. 00:16:21.419 --> 00:16:23.879 I've actually had to write letters to people 00:16:23.879 --> 00:16:27.659 that have died to get out of me, this is what 00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:30.159 happened, and this was wrong, and this was hurt, 00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:33.539 and I forgive you. It wasn't for their benefit, 00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:39.840 it was for mine. Any issues with purity? In your 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:47.259 thoughts? In your speech? Any issues in your 00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:51.940 finances? Are they where God wants them to be? 00:16:54.419 --> 00:16:57.220 Saving is a good thing, but has it become a security? 00:16:58.340 --> 00:17:01.080 Retirement funds are really important, but have 00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:03.519 you drawn some line that God can't touch this? 00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:07.480 Because I'm just not sure they had all those 00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:13.490 rules. in ages past? Is your generosity and your 00:17:13.490 --> 00:17:15.650 giving where you think God wants it to be? I 00:17:15.650 --> 00:17:18.990 don't know. And by the way, Jesus is not asking 00:17:18.990 --> 00:17:21.470 these questions so you all can look as guilty 00:17:21.470 --> 00:17:26.430 as you look at me. Okay? I mean, hey, hey, let's 00:17:26.430 --> 00:17:30.430 try this. Wow, I need to address that. Okay. 00:17:31.309 --> 00:17:34.390 My money's messed up. I probably should be giving 00:17:34.390 --> 00:17:37.269 way different than I am now. Great. Here's Jesus. 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:39.859 Wonderful. Now we got that on the table. Would 00:17:39.859 --> 00:17:41.960 you like to, would you want more guilt, more 00:17:41.960 --> 00:17:43.660 condemnation? You want to keep living with this 00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:46.900 because you're afraid and Satan's getting fear 00:17:46.900 --> 00:17:48.700 because if you give, then this will happen and 00:17:48.700 --> 00:17:50.640 this will happen. Or just want to confess it. 00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:52.559 And why don't we get on a new plan together? 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:55.779 And why don't you experience the joy of what 00:17:55.779 --> 00:17:58.220 I have? And remember, it's not yours, it's mine. 00:17:58.420 --> 00:18:00.259 And together, we're going to do some really great 00:18:00.259 --> 00:18:02.579 stuff. And here's the thing. I promise to always 00:18:02.579 --> 00:18:05.519 take care of you. And it doesn't make you more 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:08.359 holy if you give more than other people. Why 00:18:08.359 --> 00:18:11.420 don't you give what I want you to give? Well, 00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:22.900 how would I know? He'll speak to you. I think 00:18:22.900 --> 00:18:24.940 we're having way too much fun in this very convicting 00:18:24.940 --> 00:18:27.819 time. Are your priorities where you think they 00:18:27.819 --> 00:18:34.109 need to be? I don't mean legalistic, but... Time 00:18:34.109 --> 00:18:38.309 with God. Are you taking care of your body the 00:18:38.309 --> 00:18:40.730 way that you believe God wants you to take care 00:18:40.730 --> 00:18:43.390 of your body? And, you know, I'm not looking 00:18:43.390 --> 00:18:46.569 for people to be in Muscle Magazine or on the 00:18:46.569 --> 00:18:54.210 front of us or, you know. But it is his temple. 00:18:56.309 --> 00:19:01.599 Are there any habits that... You're just so tired 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:04.980 of feeling like you're condemned. And whether 00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:09.559 it's media or food or all those different things 00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:12.720 that we do when we're tired, when we're hungry, 00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:16.059 when we're depressed, and we're discouraged. 00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:24.180 Right? We have patterns. And there is no condemnation 00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:27.500 for those that are in Christ. It's, would you 00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:32.019 come? and let me help you. Are you beginning 00:19:32.019 --> 00:19:34.920 to see, I'm sure we were, you know, oh, we're 00:19:34.920 --> 00:19:41.440 going to talk about demons. This is demonic influence. 00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:48.519 Some of you are neutralized in your faith and 00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:51.220 in trusting God, and it's over stuff like food. 00:19:52.220 --> 00:19:54.680 It's over the Spirit has talked to you and talked 00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:57.730 to you and talked to you. And others, it's media, 00:19:57.950 --> 00:20:01.190 you know, and it's not even bad media. But just 00:20:01.190 --> 00:20:02.829 when it's time to get up and do what you need 00:20:02.829 --> 00:20:06.289 to do, you just, we're lazy. I mean, I'm sorry. 00:20:06.750 --> 00:20:08.750 It's not one we use anymore. It's like one of 00:20:08.750 --> 00:20:10.470 the seven deadly sins. So it's like still in 00:20:10.470 --> 00:20:14.069 the game. Laziness isn't like eating chocolates 00:20:14.069 --> 00:20:16.950 and watching TV and, you know, binging on Netflix 00:20:16.950 --> 00:20:20.029 for three days. Laziness is not doing what needs 00:20:20.029 --> 00:20:24.380 to be done when it needs to be done. And we get 00:20:24.380 --> 00:20:28.180 soft, especially as we get older. Self -discipline 00:20:28.180 --> 00:20:30.119 is what? It's a fruit of the Spirit. It's what 00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:35.880 God produces in our life. And so living with 00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:38.619 low -grade guilt and low -grade condemnation, 00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:41.640 it gives you this sense that you don't measure 00:20:41.640 --> 00:20:44.559 up, this sense of depression. And then you and 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:47.900 I have... patterns that we live with, and we 00:20:47.900 --> 00:20:51.440 do it with food and media, and hopefully, I call 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:53.599 them the more righteous sins. I don't think there's 00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:55.559 righteous sins, but there's just ones that don't 00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:58.599 have quite as much impact negatively. I mean, 00:20:58.740 --> 00:21:01.059 like going to the refrigerator is a lot better 00:21:01.059 --> 00:21:06.420 than having an affair, only because of the consequences. 00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:14.119 So, okay, I'm putting on my armor, and so you're 00:21:14.119 --> 00:21:17.400 really saying, Like the real army against these 00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:20.160 evil spirits that are trying to destroy and deceive 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:22.779 are about like being honest with God, being in 00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:25.400 his word and responding to what he already showed 00:21:25.400 --> 00:21:28.400 me. Yes, you're protecting your heart. I love 00:21:28.400 --> 00:21:32.099 one commentator. He puts it this way. He says, 00:21:32.140 --> 00:21:35.779 words are a weak defense against condemnation, 00:21:35.779 --> 00:21:40.299 but a good life is. The third thing is having 00:21:40.299 --> 00:21:42.440 your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel. 00:21:42.990 --> 00:21:46.970 piece. And here's the metaphor, and it's Roman 00:21:46.970 --> 00:21:51.490 soldiers. They wore sandals, but there was a 00:21:51.490 --> 00:21:54.430 bottom and a bit of a top, and they would wrap 00:21:54.430 --> 00:21:59.210 around and tie all the way up to the knee. And 00:21:59.210 --> 00:22:01.609 they would either have little knobs or, in some 00:22:01.609 --> 00:22:06.190 cases, actually have nails out the bottom. Historians 00:22:06.190 --> 00:22:08.549 say that it was invented by Alexander the Great, 00:22:08.650 --> 00:22:10.609 and many of his great accomplishments he felt 00:22:10.609 --> 00:22:14.160 like It was his army's ability because they were 00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:16.339 stable. I mean, if you've ever seen a wide receiver, 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:20.640 right? He makes his cut. If he slips, what happens? 00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:24.319 You know, he doesn't get the ball. Probably the 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:26.700 other team does. Or a defensive back, I'm going 00:22:26.700 --> 00:22:29.740 to go and go, and he loses his footing. So having 00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:34.319 sure established footing in your faith is critical. 00:22:34.519 --> 00:22:37.950 The Romans then adapted this. And that preparation 00:22:37.950 --> 00:22:40.569 means establishment, a firm foundation. It conveys 00:22:40.569 --> 00:22:43.009 the idea of readiness to share the gospel. And 00:22:43.009 --> 00:22:45.549 it's an idea of understanding and living out 00:22:45.549 --> 00:22:50.849 of, I am a man or a woman saved by the gospel 00:22:50.849 --> 00:22:53.309 of grace. You understand the gospel. Understand 00:22:53.309 --> 00:22:56.970 this, Satan always attacks grace. Always attacks 00:22:56.970 --> 00:23:00.930 grace. So much of cult, so much of performance 00:23:00.930 --> 00:23:04.549 -driven Christianity, it's all about what you 00:23:04.549 --> 00:23:08.240 do instead of what God has done. And God loves 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:11.460 me. I can still remember this. I was so legalistic 00:23:11.460 --> 00:23:13.799 in my early years. And the group that I grew 00:23:13.799 --> 00:23:15.980 up with, they did not intend this. They never 00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:19.779 said this. But my personality, my workaholism, 00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:22.339 it was like, you really got rewarded if you spent 00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:24.619 time with God. So I did. If you had man -to -man 00:23:24.619 --> 00:23:26.920 time, so I did it with five people. If you were 00:23:26.920 --> 00:23:28.539 in a Bible study, so I was in a Bible study. 00:23:28.660 --> 00:23:30.619 And I led a Bible study. If you would memorize 00:23:30.619 --> 00:23:32.480 scripture, so they did one or two. Man, I started 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:36.299 doing chapters. I have hundreds of verses memorized. 00:23:38.120 --> 00:23:42.920 And I got a lot of, you know, bad boys. And what 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:45.920 I did is I just took my same desperate insecurities 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:48.160 that I had as a young man growing up, and no 00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:49.680 matter what you did, it never really measured 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:51.700 up. But work, work, work, work, work, work, work, 00:23:51.700 --> 00:23:53.640 work, work. I was a workaholic by the time I 00:23:53.640 --> 00:23:57.059 was 12. And then the first few months I was a 00:23:57.059 --> 00:23:58.680 Christian, seven nights, I just, there was this 00:23:58.680 --> 00:24:02.400 joy and this freedom. And then pretty soon. I 00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:04.660 took those same old patterns. Just because you're 00:24:04.660 --> 00:24:06.240 out of the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:08.180 of light, it doesn't mean that everything just 00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:10.640 changes overnight. It means you're a new person, 00:24:10.700 --> 00:24:13.339 and just like a baby is born, it has to learn 00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:16.019 to walk. It has to learn to take steps. It has 00:24:16.019 --> 00:24:20.019 to grow and has a responsibility. And I became 00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:24.240 this person that was completely deceived. I remember 00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:27.059 it was two and a half years into my faith, and 00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:29.299 I was walking. We had to imagine that, like, 00:24:30.100 --> 00:24:31.900 campus and all these beautiful brick buildings 00:24:31.900 --> 00:24:34.480 with ivy and then sidewalks that all in the center. 00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:37.039 We called it the quadrangle. And I remember walking 00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:38.880 in the quadrangle and the sun was coming that 00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:41.380 way. And there was a co -ed that I knew, not 00:24:41.380 --> 00:24:43.259 a girlfriend, just a co -ed. And we were kind 00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:46.460 of friends and sort of had lost sight. And we 00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:49.200 paused and talked for a minute. And God really 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:53.700 used this co -ed. And we got into a serious discussion 00:24:53.700 --> 00:24:55.759 quickly. She goes, you know, Chip, I remember 00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:58.779 when you first came here as a freshman. And you 00:24:58.779 --> 00:25:01.099 were just a really neat guy. You were just so 00:25:01.099 --> 00:25:05.740 happy and fun to be around. But, boy, you've 00:25:05.740 --> 00:25:10.019 really changed. And I don't care what the subject 00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:12.980 is. It's a verse pops out of your mouth. All 00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:16.740 I know is whenever I'm around you, I feel bad 00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:19.759 about myself. And I don't know if I'd ever want 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:21.819 to be a Christian, but if being a committed Christian 00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:24.099 is what you are, I can tell you one thing. I'd 00:25:24.099 --> 00:25:27.660 never be one of those. You know what my first 00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:30.839 response was? I turned around. 1 Corinthians 00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:33.819 2 .12, those who do not have the Spirit of God 00:25:33.819 --> 00:25:35.799 do not understand the things that are given by 00:25:35.799 --> 00:25:41.099 the Spirit of God. Completely defensive. Then 00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:44.140 I went back to my dorm room, and the Holy Spirit 00:25:44.140 --> 00:25:48.720 said, that was not her, that was me. You have 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:51.420 an external righteousness. Your joy is gone. 00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:53.920 You think because you pray every day, have a 00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:55.900 quiet time, memorize verses, and are doing all 00:25:55.900 --> 00:25:58.319 this stuff, you're pleasing to me. You are a 00:25:58.319 --> 00:26:02.420 jerk and a Pharisee. Here's how I measure growth. 00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:07.480 Do you love me and do you love people? And this 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:11.359 girl whom I love and I want to reach is repelled 00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:17.039 by you. Boy, you talk about tears. And I like 00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:18.920 to say that was a really big moment. I've had 00:26:18.920 --> 00:26:22.420 one of those. I've had a lot of those. I've had 00:26:22.420 --> 00:26:25.299 a lot of those over the years. And I thought 00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:27.420 I was doing such a good thing and the right thing 00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:33.019 and for the right reason. Deception, condemnation, 00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:38.240 it's grace. But what he does, he wants to cast 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:44.599 doubt. 2 Corinthians 11, verses 3 and 4, he says, 00:26:44.640 --> 00:26:46.819 Paul is praying, he says, I don't want you to 00:26:46.819 --> 00:26:53.539 be deceived like... Eve was. And he then gives 00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:59.500 us the gospel. In fact, I want to take just a 00:26:59.500 --> 00:27:02.299 moment, and you all know this, and you don't 00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:05.619 even need to turn there, but can I read the gospel 00:27:05.619 --> 00:27:09.880 just so we understand it is not going to church, 00:27:09.900 --> 00:27:13.039 trying hard, being a shade more moral, and trying 00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:15.920 to be a nice person. Those are some of the results. 00:27:17.130 --> 00:27:19.589 1 Corinthians 15, now I make it known to you, 00:27:19.630 --> 00:27:22.150 brethren, the gospel, literally the word just 00:27:22.150 --> 00:27:25.089 means good news, which I preach to you, which 00:27:25.089 --> 00:27:31.410 you also received, in which also you stand, by 00:27:31.410 --> 00:27:35.410 which you were also saved, if you hold fast, 00:27:35.569 --> 00:27:37.470 or literally, since you hold fast the word which 00:27:37.470 --> 00:27:39.890 I preach to you, unless you believed in vain. 00:27:40.289 --> 00:27:42.690 For I deliver to you of first importance what 00:27:42.690 --> 00:27:47.240 I also received. Christ died for our sins, literally 00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:50.220 in our place, according to the scriptures. And 00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:52.160 that he was buried and that he was raised on 00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:54.240 the third day according to the scriptures. And 00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:56.460 that he appeared to Cephas, that's Peter, then 00:27:56.460 --> 00:27:58.440 to the 12. And then he appeared to more than 00:27:58.440 --> 00:28:01.579 500 brethren at one time, most of whom remain 00:28:01.579 --> 00:28:04.119 alive until now, but some have fallen asleep. 00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:07.539 And then he appeared to James and then to all 00:28:07.539 --> 00:28:09.599 the apostles. And last of all, as it were to 00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:14.930 one untimely born, he appeared also to me. A 00:28:14.930 --> 00:28:19.609 historical event, 500 eyewitnesses in space -time 00:28:19.609 --> 00:28:22.730 history. God the Son came, lived a perfect life, 00:28:22.890 --> 00:28:25.710 died upon the cross to pay for your sin, my sin, 00:28:25.829 --> 00:28:28.730 and the sins of all people of all time. And it 00:28:28.730 --> 00:28:32.049 is a gift to be received and to turn from our 00:28:32.049 --> 00:28:35.490 sins and receive this gift. The gospel is good 00:28:35.490 --> 00:28:38.690 news. It's not a program to become more moral. 00:28:38.970 --> 00:28:42.609 When Jesus comes into your life, and his grace 00:28:42.609 --> 00:28:45.809 begins to work, your life changes from the inside 00:28:45.809 --> 00:28:48.470 out, and you become more moral in your thinking, 00:28:48.529 --> 00:28:51.390 in your speech, in your attitudes. But it's a 00:28:51.390 --> 00:28:57.049 relationship. Quick question. Do you know and 00:28:57.049 --> 00:29:00.890 understand the content of the gospel? If you 00:29:00.890 --> 00:29:04.730 don't, he will bombard you with doubts. Second, 00:29:04.910 --> 00:29:07.450 do you know the basis for your eternal security 00:29:07.450 --> 00:29:11.279 and assurance of your salvation? eternal security, 00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:20.119 assurance. But he was writing, 1 John, he's writing 00:29:20.119 --> 00:29:22.880 to the church there, and he says, this is the 00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:25.000 record, or this is the testimony, or this is 00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:28.680 the truth, that God has given us eternal life. 00:29:28.819 --> 00:29:32.119 In other words, a gift. And this life is in his 00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:35.819 son. Now listen carefully. He that has the son 00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:40.440 has life. He that does not have the Son of God 00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:44.420 does not have life. I grew up thinking if you 00:29:44.420 --> 00:29:46.819 go to church, if you're a moral person, if your 00:29:46.819 --> 00:29:49.380 good deeds wait out your bad deeds, then God 00:29:49.380 --> 00:29:52.259 would kind of let you in. It's not based on that. 00:29:52.700 --> 00:29:55.420 If you have the Son, it's relational. You have 00:29:55.420 --> 00:29:59.920 life. Verse 13 of 1 John 5. These things I've 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:02.880 written to you. Are you ready? That you might 00:30:02.880 --> 00:30:07.140 know that you have eternal life and believing. 00:30:07.710 --> 00:30:10.650 Life in his son. I just want to tell you, not 00:30:10.650 --> 00:30:13.289 having doubts about those things. Faith is based 00:30:13.289 --> 00:30:17.289 on facts, not feelings. There's times where your 00:30:17.289 --> 00:30:19.990 feelings, right? If any of you have been married 00:30:19.990 --> 00:30:21.890 for very long or had a close relationship with 00:30:21.890 --> 00:30:23.529 a friend, don't you have days where you don't 00:30:23.529 --> 00:30:26.250 feel so good about them? There's days you don't 00:30:26.250 --> 00:30:28.369 feel so good about God. There's days I don't 00:30:28.369 --> 00:30:30.049 feel so close to God. That doesn't change the 00:30:30.049 --> 00:30:33.130 facts. Facts, this is what happened. I've trusted 00:30:33.130 --> 00:30:36.019 in him. The feelings. They're kind of the caboose. 00:30:36.299 --> 00:30:38.559 Finally, sharing your faith is one of the most 00:30:38.559 --> 00:30:41.400 powerful faith builders available, and often 00:30:41.400 --> 00:30:44.400 the best defense is a good offense. And I'll 00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:47.640 close with just a great story where I learned 00:30:47.640 --> 00:30:49.559 this. I played basketball in college, and then 00:30:49.559 --> 00:30:51.940 I got invited to play on a team throughout South 00:30:51.940 --> 00:30:54.220 America. It was called Venture for Victory or 00:30:54.220 --> 00:30:56.319 Sports Ambassadors. It was sort of a precursor 00:30:56.319 --> 00:30:58.380 of Athletes in Action. We played every Olympic 00:30:58.380 --> 00:31:00.740 team in every South American country save Uruguay. 00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:04.940 And then we would do a little... like a clinic 00:31:04.940 --> 00:31:06.500 in the morning. It might even play at smaller 00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:09.740 schools. And then we would share the gospel at 00:31:09.740 --> 00:31:11.720 halftime. And then for about an hour and a half 00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:14.220 or two hours, people would come down and we would 00:31:14.220 --> 00:31:16.359 talk and share our faith. I would share the gospel 00:31:16.359 --> 00:31:20.819 probably 15, 20 times a day. And I don't know 00:31:20.819 --> 00:31:23.279 about you, but I'd never done that before. And 00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:26.259 I saw all these people come to Christ. It was 00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:29.019 like Paul says, for I'm not ashamed of the gospel, 00:31:29.099 --> 00:31:32.960 for it is the power of God and salvation. to 00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:35.059 the Jew first and also to the Greek. And what 00:31:35.059 --> 00:31:38.779 I realized was the power is not in the messenger, 00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:41.660 the power is in the message. And I just share 00:31:41.660 --> 00:31:44.859 this because when you can understand that... 00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:47.319 This is a done deal because of who Jesus is and 00:31:47.319 --> 00:31:49.619 what he's done. We were in Punta Arenas. It's 00:31:49.619 --> 00:31:52.079 the southernmost city in the world. It was really 00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:55.059 cold. We did warm -ups. You know, they didn't 00:31:55.059 --> 00:31:56.920 have a heated gym. We did warm -ups with our 00:31:56.920 --> 00:31:59.839 sweats on, the condensation on the floor. We 00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:01.839 had been traveling. We did every major city in 00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:04.960 Chile. And I was super, super tired. And we played 00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:06.960 a bunch of games. We had about 40 games that 00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:09.740 we did in about 30 days. And just emotionally, 00:32:09.900 --> 00:32:12.279 it was like, forget it. But we had a really good 00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:14.539 team from a lot of major, you know, we went 7 00:32:14.539 --> 00:32:18.000 '1", 7', 6 '11", 6 '10", from Oregon, point guard 00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:19.700 from New Mexico State. I mean, it was a great 00:32:19.700 --> 00:32:22.140 team. How this little NAA got on the team, I 00:32:22.140 --> 00:32:24.220 don't know, but I was glad I was there. As a 00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:26.319 player, you always want, give me more time, coach, 00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:28.200 give me more time. On this trip, it was like, 00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:30.200 hey, anybody else want to come in? You know, 00:32:30.299 --> 00:32:34.240 like, I am so exhausted. And so I just got mad. 00:32:35.099 --> 00:32:37.339 And I just said, you know what? I'm not sharing 00:32:37.339 --> 00:32:42.279 Christ afterwards. I'm tired. I'm done. I'm discouraged. 00:32:42.660 --> 00:32:45.839 In fact, I'm depressed. You want someone to hear 00:32:45.839 --> 00:32:48.779 about you? You can bring them to me. So, I mean, 00:32:48.799 --> 00:32:51.039 that was not how you pray, but I'm telling you, 00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:54.059 that's how I pray. It was like a child tantrum, 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:57.079 bad attitude. So, you know, the game's over, 00:32:57.160 --> 00:32:58.839 and people are coming down, and all the players 00:32:58.839 --> 00:33:01.059 are talking with people. I'm sitting right here. 00:33:02.599 --> 00:33:06.609 Some kid walks up. And I memorized my testimony 00:33:06.609 --> 00:33:09.609 in Spanish, and I knew enough to get along. And 00:33:09.609 --> 00:33:14.289 this kid comes up and, eh, well, how do I know 00:33:14.289 --> 00:33:23.609 about Jesus? Beat it, kid. So that had happened. 00:33:24.329 --> 00:33:26.470 And so then a group of people came down, and 00:33:26.470 --> 00:33:27.910 they wanted to talk, and they asked me questions. 00:33:27.930 --> 00:33:30.450 And God, my hard heart sort of softened, and 00:33:30.450 --> 00:33:33.509 I got up. So I started talking to people and 00:33:33.509 --> 00:33:35.670 everything like that, and I gave the gospel clearly 00:33:35.670 --> 00:33:38.950 and inwardly repented of my sin. And then I said, 00:33:38.990 --> 00:33:41.269 has anyone ever had that experience where you've 00:33:41.269 --> 00:33:44.190 trusted in Christ? And this little kid goes, 00:33:44.289 --> 00:33:49.710 I have. I looked over and said, what? Oh, no. 00:33:49.789 --> 00:33:52.490 And then he explained it to me. You couldn't 00:33:52.490 --> 00:33:55.349 share the gospel worse with a worse attitude. 00:33:56.609 --> 00:33:59.329 See, the power is not. Now, I'm not saying that's 00:33:59.329 --> 00:34:05.240 how you should do it. But that day reminded me, 00:34:05.339 --> 00:34:10.119 you know something? The power of God is in the 00:34:10.119 --> 00:34:13.320 word of God and in the gospel itself. The more 00:34:13.320 --> 00:34:16.239 you share it and you see its power, the more 00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:19.900 you'll recognize the grace of God for yourself. 00:34:23.659 --> 00:34:26.539 Before we move any farther in today's program, 00:34:26.760 --> 00:34:29.780 I just have this strong sense that some of you 00:34:29.780 --> 00:34:32.889 listening to my voice We're struck with the thought 00:34:32.889 --> 00:34:36.590 that you doubt, you wonder about your salvation, 00:34:36.869 --> 00:34:39.969 you wonder about your standing. Today is the 00:34:39.969 --> 00:34:43.269 day to resolve it. It's not by works which we 00:34:43.269 --> 00:34:45.869 have done, but according to His mercy He has 00:34:45.869 --> 00:34:48.730 saved us. Right now, today, you can settle the 00:34:48.730 --> 00:34:51.989 issue based on Jesus' work on the cross, His 00:34:51.989 --> 00:34:55.239 payment for your sin. His resurrection, he offers 00:34:55.239 --> 00:34:58.239 you right now a free gift. Right now, wherever 00:34:58.239 --> 00:35:01.099 you are, I'm going to ask you to bow your heart, 00:35:01.179 --> 00:35:03.840 even if you can't shut your eyes and say, Dear 00:35:03.840 --> 00:35:06.639 Jesus, I want to settle this issue. I want to 00:35:06.639 --> 00:35:09.360 be your son. I want to be your daughter. I want 00:35:09.360 --> 00:35:11.800 my sins forgiven. I want protection from the 00:35:11.800 --> 00:35:14.659 enemy of Satan and demons. And right now, in 00:35:14.659 --> 00:35:18.239 Jesus' name, I ask you, please forgive my sins, 00:35:18.340 --> 00:35:21.880 Father. Come into my life. Make me your son or 00:35:21.880 --> 00:35:24.860 your daughter. I believe that your payment at 00:35:24.860 --> 00:35:27.860 the cross was all that I need, and I want to 00:35:27.860 --> 00:35:31.800 be in your family. Forgive me, cleanse me, and 00:35:31.800 --> 00:35:34.980 give me the power now and the armor to live this 00:35:34.980 --> 00:35:38.309 new life. In Jesus' name. We want to help you 00:35:38.309 --> 00:35:41.730 in your new life. We want your feet shod with 00:35:41.730 --> 00:35:45.250 the preparation of the gospel of peace. You can 00:35:45.250 --> 00:35:48.829 know for sure. Your standing is clear. It's not 00:35:48.829 --> 00:35:52.010 about you and what you've done. It's about Christ 00:35:52.010 --> 00:35:56.099 and what he's done. Amen. Thanks, Chip. Well, 00:35:56.139 --> 00:35:58.239 if you prayed to receive Christ, we have a free 00:35:58.239 --> 00:36:00.360 resource we'd like to put in your hands that 00:36:00.360 --> 00:36:03.659 was specifically created for new believers. This 00:36:03.659 --> 00:36:06.039 tool will help you understand what it means to 00:36:06.039 --> 00:36:09.400 trust in Jesus and what to do next. Request this 00:36:09.400 --> 00:36:15.239 free resource by calling 888 -333 -6003 or visiting 00:36:15.239 --> 00:36:19.360 livingontheedge .org, then clicking the New Believers 00:36:19.360 --> 00:36:24.039 button. That's livingontheedge .org or call 888 00:36:24.039 --> 00:36:29.019 - 333 -6003. Let us help you get started in your 00:36:29.019 --> 00:36:31.599 faith journey. Well, thanks for listening to 00:36:31.599 --> 00:36:33.940 this edition of Living on the Edge with Chip 00:36:33.940 --> 00:36:36.539 Ingram. I'm Dave Drewy, and I hope you'll join 00:36:36.539 --> 00:36:37.480 us again next time.